Jesus on Every Page Poem

I’ve always been amazed at John Piper’s ability to write poems. Apart from an utterly unforgettable forgettable poem I wrote for my future wife on Valentine’s day about 24 years ago, my poetic gifts have remained resolutely dormant, if not totally extinct.

But a few weeks ago, I sat down and thought, “I wonder if I could write a poem about Christ in each book of the Old Testament.” I sat at a blank screen thinking I’d still be there an hour later with no pixels to show for my effort. But then the “muse” descended upon me, and 30 hours later, lo and behold, I had 30 verses! It’s not exactly Robert Burns or William Shakespeare (maybe a bit limerick-ish in places), but still, I hope it gets the Old Testament’s Christ-centered message across in a slightly different way.

As you can see, we even made a video of it with some of the kids in my congregation. I understand that some of these poor children had “Jesus on Every Page” ringing in their ears for the next couple of days (and nights!)

You can download a pdf of the poem here, and feel free to embed and share the video and poem elsewhere. Meanwhile, John Piper’s position as the Poet Laureate of the Reformed world remains unthreatened.

(PS: Remember if you order Jesus on Every Page before the end of this week, you’ll receive $100 of free OT resources. Details here.)

Jesus On Every Page

What do we find when we open this bookLet’s open the covers and take a close lookWherever we turn, wherever we readA familiar name is what we meetIt’s Jesus on every pageHe wasn’t idle and quiet for thousands of yearsJust watching and waiting till His turn drew nearHe was busy and active in grace and in powerHis mercy was growing – seed, bud, and flowerIt’s Jesus on every pageHe is the Word by whom all things were madeThe Promised Seed who defeats the Serpent’s raidHe came as the Covenanter to save a peopleAbram saw His day, Jacob saw him as an AngelIt’s Jesus on every pageWith the blood of a lamb He painted His salvationWith an outstretched arm He defeated the EgyptianRedemption, Relationship, Rules in that orderDwelling with sinners, in the center, not the borderIt’s Jesus on every pageHe skillfully taught using visual theologyLevitical Priests offered sacrifice dailyNo blood? No remission, no forgiveness of sinBut need more than sheep, for conscience has painIt’s Jesus on every pageThe Father chastised His people’s rebellionThe years numbered forty in the desert of SinYet still sent His Son to be their faithful leaderGlory-cloud by day, by night a fiery pillarIt’s Jesus on every pageMoses chose Christ’s reproaches, and spoke of Him oftenBut his sinful bad temper barred him from CanaanHis last written work, Deuteronomy to authorWhere He promised THE prophet, “one like me, but better”It’s Jesus on every pageY’shua called Joshua to conquer the landHe united the tribes into one mighty bandMuch good was accomplished, Israel greatly blessedBut Y’shua gives better land, vict’ry and restIt’s Jesus on every pageJesus the Angel stopped Israel’s extinctionHe saved, and saved through, Barak, Samson, and GideonYet still each man did what in his eyes was rightBelievers scanned the horizon, no good king in sightIt’s Jesus on every pageHope dawns in four chapters of godly romanceGod sends a redeemer, His kingdom to advanceGod says of a Gentile, “Ruth, you shall be mine!”A Moabite? Yes, in the Messianic lineIt’s Jesus on every pageHannah predicts God’s Anointed, Messiah,King David arises, “Is this our desire?”He is the man after God’s own heartEternal king and kingdom now start?It’s Jesus on every pageYet, David, Solomon, and every successorSin and fall short in serious measureIsrael’s divided, then distant exileFaith in Messiah faces Babylon trialIs Jesus on any page?Yet God is still faithful, He keeps covenantMoves heathen king Cyrus, Israel to replantNehemiah and Ezra rebuild with great joyGod’s kingdom is coming, the devil to destroyIt’s Jesus on every pageBut Satan’s still busy, Haman wants all Jews deadMessiah’s line and purpose now hangs by a threadEsther ventures by faith, her fate no one knowsIt’s her time, not Haman’s, he’s on the gallowsIt’s Jesus on every pageJob’s innocent suffering no fault of hisHe’s sure precious gold is the end of all thisNot only a picture of a Redeemer to comeThe Redeemer comes early and shows Job his homeIt’s Jesus on every page.We sing the Psalms to Him as God only wiseWe sing the Psalms of Him using faith as our eyesWe sing the Psalms with him who sang them belowIn times of rejoicing, and when the tears flowIt’s Jesus on every pageFrom Worship leader to Wisdom teacherOne greater than Solomon’s there and hereAlthough Madam Folly may call us to whoredomIn Jesus is hidden all knowledge and wisdomIt’s Jesus on every page.The best life without Him is vanity of vanitiesThe worst life with Him is verity of veritiesEducation, possessions, cash, joy, toys, and friends,But what will they profit, if no Christ at the end.It’s Jesus on every page.I am the bridegroom seeking a brideA people to marry and loveTo nourish and cherish right at my sideI can’t wait to come down from aboveI’m Jesus on every pageI’m Wonderful, Counselor, the Prince of PeaceI’m butchered for sinners in atoning sacrificeThe Spirit’s upon me, good news for the meekTo set free the captives and strengthen the weekI’m Jesus on every pageJeremiah predicts I’ll make covenant new,A covenant effective, it’s something I’ll do,I’ll be you prophet, your priest, and your king,In grace I’ll forgive and forget all your sin.I’m Jesus on every pageI’m calling the wicked, Turn why will you dieI’m the good shepherd who tells you to flyI’m the new temple, God’s glory to shareI’m Jehovah Shammah, the Lord who is thereI’m Jesus on every pageTwo kingdoms are warring to death in DanielThe furious conflict is hot and hostileBut in visions, in furnace, and in lions’ denFinal victory’s mine, not devil’s or men.I’m Jesus on every page.Some of the prophets are smallerTheir message is often quite grimBut even there, jewels of Jesus are shiningThey still speak clearly of HimIt’s Jesus on every pageIn Hosea He allures the unfaithfulHe promises His Spirit in JoelObadiah says He’ll conquer the malignHe uses useless Jonah as a signIt’s Jesus on every pageIn Amos, He roars like a lionIn Micah, He pardons all our sinsIn Habakkuk, He gives hope in famineIn Zephaniah, He sees us and singsIt’s Jesus on every page.Nations’ glories flow to Jesus in HaggaiZechariah opens His fountain for sinIn Malachi John the Baptist gets a mentionThen 400 years of silence beginWhere’s the Jesus on every page?Four centuries, no Jesus, no pageDark, dismal, depressing the ageThen choirs of angels erupt in the skiesChrist Jesus is born, with real human eyesAgain, Jesus on every pageNo more just predictions and picturesNo quick visits in mere human formHe’s come to be like us and be with usUnleashing a devilish stormThey hate Jesus on every pageThe Promised Seed bruised, but not beatenFour Gospels record His great winNo longer pages dripping blood redConqueror’s gold is the color insteadWe love Jesus on every page

Not only in the children minds ring the sentence “Jesus on every page” but also in mine – I hope for the rest of my life. I’m very impressed and will buy your book.

Marieke Ude

Yes, the children still have “Jesus on every page” ring in their ears! Thanks for involving them in such a great way! (They are not “poor children” but rather very much enriched!)

http://www.se7en.org.za se7en

Ok…That is incredible!!! Well done!!!

Alyssa

This would sound awesome being rapped/hip-hopped by Shai Linne. Lyrical theology!

http://homeschoolonthecroft.blogspot.com/ Anne

Oh, David … This is wonderful! Though privileged to be ‘born into’ teaching of Christ through every page of Scripture, yet there is so much about the books of the OT, their purpose and their meaning that I am clueless about.
This is *worth* memorizing … Definitely worth printing and saving where I can see it every day.